32 pages 1 hour read

Longinus

On the Sublime

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 100

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

On the Sublime by Longinus, is an epistolary treatise addressed to Postumius Terentianus that offers advice on achieving greatness in writing. Longinus argues that greatness, or the sublime, overwhelms and moves readers and is achieved through great thoughts, strong emotions, noble diction, effective word arrangement, and figures of speech. He illustrates his points with examples from writers like Homer and Plato and discusses the role of innate genius and moral excellence in great writing. The treatise highlights that freedom in society is essential for literary greatness.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

On the Sublime by Longinus is celebrated for its insightful analysis of great literature and rhetoric, offering timeless principles of sublimity that resonate even today. However, some critics find its fragmented structure challenging and its historical context obscure. Overall, the work is highly regarded for its profound influence on literary criticism.

Who should read this

Who Should Read On the Sublime?

A reader who enjoys On the Sublime by Longinus likely appreciates classical literature, rhetoric, and literary criticism. They are similar to readers of Aristotle's Poetics and Horace's Ars Poetica, valuing insights into the power of elevated language and its impact on emotions and persuasion.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Topics

Philosophy

Arts / Culture

Period

Ancient Greece

Themes

Values/Ideas: Literature

Values/Ideas: Beauty

Genre

Italian Literature